Journal box structure



Feb. 10, 1942. J. G. BLUNT 2,272,865

JOURNAL BOX STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 14, 1940 11v VENTOR James G. 5/14/17 Patented Feb. 10, 1942 JOURNAL BOX STRUCTURE James G. Blunt, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to American Locomotive Company, New N. Y., a corporation of New York York,

Application December 14, 194.0, Serial o. 370,115

1 Claim. (c as 41) This invention relates to journal box structures, and more particularly to journal boxes and axle end thrust bearings associated therewith for outside journals ofa wheeled axle of a railway vehicle.

An object of this invention is to provide a journal box structure embodying an improved journal box and axle end thrust bearing for an outside journal of a wheeled axle of a railway vehicle.

A further object is to provide a journal 'box structure as aforesaid, in which the thrust hearing is carried by a cellar separate and removable from a housing forming a part of the journal box structure.

A further object is to provide a yielding backing for the thrust bearing. I I

A further object is to provide retainer means in the end thrust bearing for a. lubricating wick.

Other and further objects of and advantages achieved by the present invention will be apparent from the following description of an approved embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a section of a portion of a railway vehicle embodying the present invention, taken on the line II of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a section of the aforesaid portion of a railway vehicle taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, parts being shown in fulland parts being removed, and the wheel and axle being shown fragmentally; Fig, 3 is a section of the portion of the railway vehicle taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2, parts being shown in full and other parts being removed; Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through the center of the thrust bearing, taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear elevation of the thrust bearing, parts being broken away; Fig. 6 is a reduced section, similar to Fig. 2, of the journal box of the present invention, parts being removed, and a portion of a side frame member being shown; and Fig. 7 is an isometric view of the thrust bearing body and face-plate.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the journal box I of the journal box structure embodying the present invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 2, is formed of two sections, namely a housing 3 and a cellar 4 disposed therein. In the present instance the invention is illustrated in connection with a truck of a railway vehicle, the truck being indicated generally by the numeral 1, However, it will be understood that the invention has application to other axle outside journals. The housing 3 is formed in part integrally with a pedestal 5 of a side frame member 6 of the truck 7. The housing 3 extends inwardly and outwardly of the pedestal, and is open at its outer end. It houses an outside journal 8 of an axle 9 on which is mounted a wheel Ill. The pedestal and housing are closed at the bottom by a spreader ll secured thereto by bolts I2 and nuts l3 as shown, the spreader forming the bottom wall of the housing. Between the journal 8 and the top wall [4 I of the housing is disposed the usual bearing brass l5 and wedge l6, which are held in position relative to the housing and axle journal in the usual manner. The top face ll of the wedge is slightly convex longitudinally, permitting slight tilting between the truck frame and axle longitudinally of the axle.

Vertical flanges l8 extend laterally from side walls IQ of the housing, the flanges having threadedorifices 2B, in which are threaded.- studs .2l for a purpose presently to appear. The side wall I9 at the end of the side frame member is off-set at the bottom in a direction to provide a space 22 for facilitating the removal of the axle 9 when desired.

The cellar 4 has a body portion 23 which is disposed in the lower part of the housing 3 adjacent the spreader H and a front portion 24 which extends outwardly and, upwardly from the body portion. The front portion 24 is disposed over the open outer end of the housing, and flanges 25 extend from the front portion in overlapping relation with the flanges 18, The flanges 25 have orifices 26 in line with the orifices Z0 and the studs 2! passthroughthe orifices 26. Nuts 21 threaded on the studs 2I secure the cellar tothe housing 3, the studs properly positioning the cellar in the housing.

The front portion 2 3 further has side walls 28 which extend outwardly from the housing 3, a top Wall 29 and a bottom wall 39, the bottom wall 39 merging with the bottom wall 3| of the body portion 23. Flanges 32 extend from each of the side walls 28 inwardly partially over the outer opening of the housing 3, for a purpose presently to appear. The cellar is open at the front and provided with a lid 33 pivoted to a lug on the top wall 29 in the usual manner.

The body portion 23 has side walls 34 and an inner or rear wall 35 extending between the side walls 3 1, the walls 34 and 35 extending upwardly from thebottom wall 3 l and the walls 34 extending to the front portion side walls 28, The body and front portion walls thus provide a reservoir for lubricant for the moving parts disposed in the journal box, waste being disposed between the cellar bottom and journal in the usual manner.

The side walls 34 extend upwardly a predeterend thrust bearing or block 40 (best shown in Fig. '7) for receiving the end thrusts of the axle 9. The end thrust bearing has an iron body 4| and a non-rustable face plate 42 secured throughout by fusion to the iron body 4|, the face plate being substantially circular in shape and the body conforming to this shape at its center portion. The face plate may be formedonthe iron body with an electric weldrod, if desired. The body 4| is reduced in height on each side of. the face plate 42 providing extensions 43.

A filler piece 44 is welded on the inner face of 42 in the longitudinal center of the end thrust bearing and slightly below the horizontal center line thereof. The face plate is cut away from the orifice 47 to the bottom of the face plate providing a dove-tail shaped groove 48 open at the inner face of the end thrust bearing. Retainer means 49, for a purpose presently to appear, are formed in the inner face of the body 4| adjacent the orifice 41. The retainer means is formed by a concave groove 50 running horizontally along the bottom face of the orifice, and three concave inclined grooves running from the groove 50 to the inner face of the body 4|, the grooves leaving two hook-like projections 52 which act as the retainers of the retainer means.

A wick 53 is disposed in the orifice 41 and groove 48 and depends below the end thrust bearing into the bottom of the cellar, as is best shown in Fig. 2, when the thrust bearing is assembled with the cellar, as will presently appear. The wick soaks up the lubricant contained in the cellar and conveys it to the faceof the outer end 54 of the axle journal in the usual manner, and to the opposite inner face 55 of the face plate 42. The inner face of the wick is substantially flush with the face 55. The wick is held in place partly by the orifice 41, partly by the projections 52 which prevent movement of the wick out of the orifice 41, and partly by the dove-tailed groove 48 in which it snugly fits, preventing the wick from moving due to engagement therewith of the rotating axle.

The end thrust bearingis assembled with the cellar 4 before the cellaris'put intoplace in the housing 3. The end thrust bearing is disposed with an extension 43 in each shoulder 36, the extensions resting on the seats 31, and with the face plate 42 directed inwardly and concentric with the opposite end 54 of the journal 8, the yielding members 46 being opposite to the flanges 32, and the filler pieces 44 being opposite to the widened portions 39 of the side walls 34.

The cellar 4 is slid into housing 3 with the bottom wall 3| of the cellar resting on the spreader H and with the studs 2| in the orifices 26. When the cellar is assembled with the housing, the end thrust bearing is disposed beneath lugs 56 which extend into the housing from the side walls 9, the lugs 56 preventing upward movement of the end thrust bearing in the housing 3.

The operation of the end thrust bearing is as follows: Normally the end thrust bearing is slightly spaced from the end 54 of the journal 8. However, when the journal 8 moves outwardly relative to the joumal box structure, due to a wheel flange thrust, the end 54 engages the face plate 42 and further outward movement is resistedv thereby. The thrust is taken by the flanges 32 which act as a sectional backing for the end thrust bearing, each flange 32 forming a-backing section, the yielding members 46 cushioning the thrust and the wick 53 lubricating the engaging face plate 42 and journal end 54. Thus the yielding members 46 and flanges 32 providea yielding backing for the end thrust bearing. The yielding members further permit slight tilting or angular'movement of the end thrust bearing with the axle when the axle is in engagement therewith and tilts relative to the side frame members, the fit of the ends of the end thrust bearing, with the yielding members assembled, in the shoulders providing sufficient tolerance to provide for this. The end thrust bearing limits the amount of relative movement between the wheel and journal box structure and prevents the outer face of the wheel from engaging and rubbing against the inner face of the journal box structure. The thrust is transmitted through the journal box structure to the side frame members 6.

Among the advantages of the present invention is the entire support of the end thrust bearing by the cellar so that the cellar and end thrust bearing canbe removed as a unit from the housing without disturbing any of the other assemblages within the housing. Furthermore the end thrust bearing is united with the cellar without need'of any fastening means. All that is necessary is to place it upon the seats within the shoulders when assembling, and raising it therefrom when disassembling.

While there has been hereinbefore described an approved embodiment of this invention, it will be understood that many and various changes and modifications in form, arrangement of parts anddetails of construction thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and that all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claim are'contemplated as a part of this invention.

The invention claimed and desired to be secured'by Letters Patent is:

h A journal box comprising an open face journal housing; a cellar having an upwardly extending open frame exterior and adjacent to said housing open face; and an integral bar-like journal end thrust bearing disposed inwardly of said frame, between the housing sides to prevent end movement thereof, and backed by said frame side walls, said side walls being flanged and said flanges being bolted to said housing adjacent said backing to resist thrusts, said cellar further having groove seats in its side walls supporting said bearing and preventing inward movement thereof, and'said housing side walls having lateral interior lugs over said bearing preventing upward movement thereof.

JAMES G. BLUNT. 

